Systems, methods and apparatus for determining whether a low battery condition exists in a remote control

ABSTRACT

Various embodiments of systems, methods and apparatus are provided for adjusting a low battery detection threshold in a remote control. An embodiment of a method includes determining a type of a battery powering a remote control of an entertainment device and determining a first low battery threshold for the battery based on the type of the battery. The first low battery threshold indicates a low battery condition of the remote control. Responsive to measuring a voltage of the battery, a determination is made regarding whether the voltage of the battery is below the low battery threshold. Responsive to determining that the voltage of the battery is below the first low battery threshold, a low battery message is transmitted to an entertainment device. The entertainment device utilizes the message to present an indicator to a user regarding the low battery condition of the remote control.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/104,291,entitled “Systems, Methods, and Apparatus for Adjusting a Low BatteryDetection Threshold of a Remote Control,” filed Apr. 16, 2008 now U.S.Pat. No. 8,009,054, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Many remote controls for entertainment devices include a feature thatdetects a low battery condition and alerts the user of the low batterycondition. For example, a remote control for a satellite televisionreceiver may detect that the battery powering the remote control onlyhas 10% of its usable life left. The remote control may communicate thelow battery condition to the satellite television receiver, and thereceiver may present an indicator to a user regarding the low batterycondition. Thus, the user may take action to replace the batteries toavoid experiencing a subsequent dead battery in the remote control.

The low battery condition is typically detected based on comparing aterminal voltage of the battery with a low battery threshold voltage.The usable life of the battery is directly correlated with a terminalvoltage of the battery. A specified point on a voltage discharge curveindicates a remaining usable life of the battery. However, there aremany different types of batteries, and each type of battery does notfollow the same voltage discharge curve. For example, a terminal voltageof ˜1.20 V may correspond to 10% of the remaining usable life of anickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery, whereas a terminal voltage of ˜1.05V may correspond with the same remaining usable life of an alkalinebattery. Because the batteries of a remote control may be replaced witheither type of battery, the utilization of a single threshold valueindicating a low battery condition often results in providing a userwith little warning regarding dead batteries or prompting the user toreplace the batteries more often than necessary. Thus, the user maybecome dissatisfied with the battery replacement indicators provided bythe satellite television receiver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The same number represents the same element or same type of element inall drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an entertainment system.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a remote control of theentertainment system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a graph of the relationship betweenterminal voltage and time for alkaline and NiMH batteries.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of an entertainment device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a screenshot including a warningmessage regarding the low battery condition.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a screenshot including a batterytype selection menu.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a process for indicating a lowbattery condition in a remote control for an entertainment device.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a process for adjusting a voltagethreshold indicating an unsafe operating condition of a remote controlbased on a battery type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various embodiments described herein generally provide apparatus,systems and methods for indicating to a user a low battery condition ofa remote control for an entertainment device. More particularly, thevarious embodiments described herein generally provide apparatus,systems and methods which facilitate determining an appropriate voltagethreshold utilized to determine/define a low battery condition of theremote control based on a type of the battery utilized in the remotecontrol. In short, the various embodiments described provide apparatus,systems and/or methods for adjusting a low battery threshold based on atype of battery utilized in a remote control.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an entertainment system 100. Theentertainment system 100 presents content to a user 108. In at least oneembodiment, the content presented to the user 108 includes anaudio/video stream, such as a television program, movie or otherrecorded content and the like. The entertainment system 100 includes anentertainment device 102, a presentation device 104 and a remote control106. Each of these components is discussed in greater detail below. Theentertainment system 100 may include other devices, components orelements not illustrated for the sake of brevity.

The entertainment device 102 is operable to receive content from one ormore content sources (not shown in FIG. 1), and to present the receivedcontent to the user 108 on the associated presentation device 104. In atleast one embodiment, the presentation device 104 is a display device(e.g., a television) configured to display content to the user 108. Theentertainment device 102 may receive an audio/video stream in any format(e.g., analog or digital format), and output the audio/video stream forpresentation by the presentation device 104. The entertainment device102 may be further configured to display menus and other informationthat allow a user 108 to control the output of content by theentertainment device 102. In at least one embodiment, the entertainmentdevice 102 is a set-top box (e.g., a satellite or cable televisionconverter box), digital video recorder (DVR) or other similar devicethat processes and provides one or more audio and/or video outputstreams to the presentation device 104 for presentation to the user 108.In some embodiments, the entertainment device 102 and the presentationdevice 104 may be integrated as a device combining the functionality ofa display device and a set-top box, digital video recorder (DVR) or thelike.

The remote control 106 may comprise any system or apparatus configuredto remotely control the output of content by the entertainment device102. For example, the remote control 106 may communicate commands to theentertainment device 102 requesting to playback content, temporally movethrough content (e.g., fast-forward or reverse), adjust the volume,access electronic programming guides and the like. In some embodiments,the remote control 106 may additionally be configured to remotelycontrol the presentation device 104. The remote control 106 maycommunicate with the entertainment device 102 and/or the presentationdevice 104 through any type of wireless communication medium, such asinfrared (IR) signals or radio-frequency (RF) signals.

The remote control 106 is powered by one or more removable batteries.The terms “battery” and “batteries” will be used interchangeably herein.It is to be appreciated that the techniques described herein may beapplied to remote controls powered by a single removable battery ormultiple removable batteries. The removable batteries may be any type ofbattery, such as AA batteries or AAA batteries typically used to powerconsumer electronic devices, such as remote controls. Further, theremovable batteries may comprise any type of battery typically used topower consumer electronic devices, such as alkaline batteries, nickelmetal hydride (NiMH) batteries, nickel cadmium (NiCad) batteries orLithium Ion batteries. The remote control 106 is configured to detect alow battery condition when the batteries have a specified usable liferemaining, such that the entertainment system 100 may indicate the lowbattery condition to the user 108. Thus, the user 108 may replace thebatteries powering the remote control 106 to avoid future interruptionsto their viewing experience caused by dead batteries in the remotecontrol 106.

For example, the entertainment system 100 may indicate to the user 108when the remaining usable life of the batteries in the remote control106 reaches 10% (e.g., a low battery condition). In at least oneembodiment, the remote control 106 detects the existence of the lowbattery condition and transmits a low battery message to theentertainment device 102 regarding the low battery condition. Thus, theentertainment device 102 may include a message in the presentationstream output to the presentation device 104 responsive to the lowbattery message. For example, if the presentation stream is anaudio/video stream, then the entertainment device 102 may insert awarning message or other type of indicator into the audio/video streamfor display by the presentation device 104. The entertainment device 102may also indicate the low battery condition using a low batteryindicator (e.g., an-LED) on the exterior of the entertainment device102.

In other embodiments, the remote control 106 may include an integratedpresentation device, such as a display screen or speaker that is capableof presenting information to the user 108. Thus, the remote control 106may be configured to communicate an indicator to the user 108 regardingthe low battery condition without cooperative operation with theentertainment device 102. For example, the remote control 106 maypresent an indicator to the user 106 on an integrated display screen ofthe remote control 106 regarding the low battery message.

In at least one embodiment, the remote control 106 detects the lowbattery condition by measuring the voltage of the batteries powering theremote control and comparing the voltage against a pre-definedthreshold. As described above, the user 108 may replace the batteries inthe remote control with any type of appropriate battery, includingalkaline batteries, NiMH batteries or NiCad batteries. Thus, if theremote control 106 utilizes a single low battery threshold to detect theexistence of the low battery condition, then the entertainment system100 may provide the user 108 with little warning regarding deadbatteries or may prompt the user 108 to replace the batteries more oftenthan necessary.

To avoid this problem, the remote control 106 is configured to determinethe type of battery powering the remote control 106 and adjust thethreshold utilized to detect the low battery condition accordingly. Forexample, the remote control 106 may be configured to differentiatebetween alkaline batteries, NiMH batteries or NiCad batteries. Theremote control 106 may detect the type of battery (e.g., the batterychemistry) utilizing any appropriate detection technique. In at leastone embodiment, the remote control 106 detects the battery type bymeasuring the initial voltage of the replacement batteries in the remotecontrol 106. The voltage measurement detection technique is described ingreater detail below.

In other embodiments, the remote control 106 includes a switch havingmultiple positions, with each position of the switch corresponding witha particular battery type (e.g., alkaline, NiMH or NiCad). For example,the switch may be disposed within the battery compartment of the remotecontrol 106. Upon replacing the batteries in the remote control 106, theuser 108 selects the appropriate position of the switch to designate thetype of the battery that is powering the remote control 106. The remotecontrol 106 thus may responsively adjust the threshold utilized toidentify a low battery condition based upon the position of the switch.In another embodiment, the remote control 106 and the entertainmentdevice 102 cooperatively operate to solicit user input from the user 108identifying the type of the replacement batteries in the remote controlresponsive to the user 108 replacing the batteries. The solicitation ofuser input is described in greater detail below.

After identifying the type of batteries utilized in the remote control106, the remote control 106 selects an appropriate threshold foridentifying a low battery condition. The remote control 106 may thenutilize the threshold to monitor for a low battery condition. In atleast one embodiment, the remote control 106 monitors for a low batterycondition while processing each user input entered by the user 108. Inother words, as components of the remote control 106 draw power from thebattery, the remote control 106 monitors the batteries to determinewhether the terminal voltage is below the low battery threshold. If theterminal voltage is below the low battery threshold, then a low batterycondition within the remote control 106 may exist.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a remote control 106A of theentertainment system 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 will be discussed inreference to the entertainment system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. Theremote control 106A includes a transmitter 202, a non-volatile memory204, an input module 206, a low battery detection module 208, a battery210 and a battery connector 212. Each of these components is discussedin greater detail below. The remote control may contain other devices,such as pointing devices (e.g., touchpads), not mentioned herein forbrevity.

The input module 206 is operable for receiving user input from the user108 (see FIG. 1). In at least one embodiment, the input module 206 is akeypad including a set of buttons. A user may utilize the keypad toinput channel numbers, control the volume of the entertainment device102 (see FIG. 1), navigate menus, manipulate the output of content bythe entertainment device 102 and/or control other functions of theentertainment device 102 and/or the presentation device 104. The inputmodule 206 further includes a processor operable to generate controlcommands for the entertainment device 102 (see FIG. 1) responsive to theuser input. The control commands may be in the form of key codes thatare compatible with the entertainment device 102 (see FIG. 1).

The transmitter 202 is operable for wirelessly communicating with theentertainment device 102 (see FIG. 1) and/or the presentation device104. More particularly, the transmitter 202 is operable for transmittinga key code and/or command message corresponding with user input to theentertainment device 102 (see FIG. 1). The transmitter 202 may utilizeany type of wireless protocol and wireless communication medium,including RF or IR key codes, to communicate with the entertainmentdevice 102 (see FIG. 1) and/or the presentation device 104. In at leastone embodiment, the transmitter 202 is a transceiver thatbi-directionally communicates with the entertainment device 102. Forexample, the remote control 106A may receive IR database or firmwareupdates from the entertainment device 102A.

The remote control 106A further includes a battery connector 212 thatconnects to a battery 210 powering the remote control 106A. The batteryconnector 212 may comprise any type of connector that connects to thebattery 210 to draw power for supplying other components of the remotecontrol 106A. For example, the battery connector 212 may include twoopposing connections for connecting to the terminals of an AA or AAAbattery. In at least one embodiment, the battery connector 212 isconfigured to connect to multiple batteries, such as 2 or 4 AAAbatteries.

The low battery detection module 208 is operable to detect low batteryconditions of the remote control 106A. More particularly, the lowbattery detection module 208 is operable to determine whether a terminalvoltage of the battery 210 drops below a threshold value, indicating alow battery condition. The low battery detection module 208 is capableof utilizing multiple threshold values for indicating a low batterycondition, depending on the type of battery 210 utilized in the remotecontrol 106A.

After the battery 210 is replaced in the remote control 106A, the lowbattery detection module 208 determines a type of the battery 210connected to the battery connector 212. In at least one embodiment, thelow battery detection module 208 measures the initial terminal voltageor impedance of the battery 210 to determine the type of the battery210. For example, an initial voltage of ˜1.50V for a single battery 210may indicate an alkaline type battery 210. By contrast, an initialvoltage of ˜1.40 V for a single battery 210 may indicate a NiMH typebattery 210. The low battery detection module 208 may include ananalog-to-digital converter utilized to perform measurement functionsfor determining the type of the battery 210 powering the remote control106A.

Responsive to determining the type of the battery 210, the low batterydetection module 208 selects an appropriate low battery threshold valuecorresponding to the type of the battery 210. In at least oneembodiment, the remote control 106A may store a table of thresholdvalues, such as in the non-volatile memory 204, that correspond tovarious types of batteries useable by the remote control 106A. Thethreshold value may be selected to provide adequate warning to a userregarding a low battery condition.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a graph 300 of the normalizedrelationship between terminal voltage and time for alkaline and NiMHbatteries. In at least one embodiment, the threshold value may beselected to indicate to the user 108 when the battery 210 has setpercentage of its usable life remaining. For example, 10% of remainingbattery life corresponds with ˜1.05 V for an alkaline battery and ˜1.15V for a NiMH battery. In at least one embodiment, responsive todetecting the low battery condition, the low battery detection module208 transmits a message (via the transmitter 202) to the entertainmentdevice 102 (see FIG. 1). The entertainment device 102 then outputs anindicator for presentation by the presentation device 104. In at leastone embodiment, the low battery message may be transmitted to theentertainment device 102 appended to a control command. However, the lowbattery message may also be transmitted to the entertainment device 102in a separate transmission.

If the terminal voltage of the battery 210 drops too low, then it may beunsafe for the remote control 106A to perform certain operations. Forexample, the remote control 106A may not be able to write data to thenon-volatile memory 204 if the terminal voltage of the battery 210 istoo low. Thus, in at least one embodiment, the low battery detectionmodule 208 is adapted to compare the terminal voltage of the battery 210with multiple threshold values. A first threshold value indicates whento warn the user 108 about the low battery threshold condition and asecond threshold value indicates when the remote control 106A shouldrefrain from performing certain functions, e.g., writing to memory. Inat least one embodiment, the first threshold value is greater than thesecond threshold value. Thus, the user 108 is alerted about the lowbattery condition before the voltage of the battery 210 drops too low toperform certain functions of the remote control 106A.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of an entertainment device 102A ofFIG. 1. More particularly, FIG. 4 illustrates an entertainment device102A embodied as a television receiver (e.g., a set-top box). However,it is to be appreciated that the entertainment device 102A may compriseany type of device that presents any type of presentation content. FIG.4 will be discussed in reference to the entertainment system 100illustrated in FIG. 1. The entertainment device 102A includes an inputinterface 402, a wireless receiver 404 and an output interface 406. Eachof these components will be discussed in greater detail below. Theentertainment device 102A may include other components or devices notillustrated for the sake of brevity.

The input interface 402 is operable for receiving presentation content,e.g., video content. The input interface 402 may be operable forreceiving and tuning any type of video content. For example, the inputinterface 402 may receive an over-the-air broadcast signal, a directbroadcast satellite signal or a cable television signal. In at least oneembodiment, the input interface 402 may receive or retrieve content froma storage medium, such as an optical disk, internal or external harddrives, portable storage devices (e.g., universal serial bus (USB)memory sticks) and the like. The input interface 402 may also receivecontent from external servers, such as video servers, that arecommunicatively coupled to the entertainment device 102A over theinternet or other types of data networks.

The wireless receiver 404 is operable to wirelessly receive and/ortransmit data to the remote control 106 (see FIG. 2). The wirelessreceiver 404 may communicate with the remote control 106 utilizing anytype of IR or RF communication link. In at least one embodiment, thewireless receiver 404 receives a key code from the remote control 106,and responsively provides the key code to the output interface 406. Thewireless receiver 404 is further operable to receive other data from theremote control 106, such as low battery messages indicating a lowbattery condition in the remote control 106.

The output interface 406 is operable for controlling the operation ofthe entertainment device 102A. In at least one embodiment, the outputinterface 406 receives video content and responsively generates anoutput stream for presentation on a presentation device 104. The outputinterface 406 is further operable to receive a key code and manipulatethe output of the video content responsive to the key code. In otherwords, the output interface 406 operates responsive to the key code tocontrol an output stream of video content.

The output interface 406 is further operable to receive the low batterymessage and output an indicator to the user 108 regarding the lowbattery condition. For example, the output interface 406 may output awarning message in a video stream for presentation by the presentationdevice 104. FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a screenshot 500including a warning message regarding the low battery condition. Theuser 108 may take appropriate action responsive to the warning messageto replace the batteries in the remote control to avoid disruptions totheir viewing experience. Other indicators, such as audible indicators,blinking lights and the like may also be utilized by the entertainmentdevice 102 to alert the user 108 regarding the low battery condition.

As described above, the entertainment device 102A (see FIG. 4) maysolicit information from the user 108 (see FIG. 1) regarding the type ofthe battery powering the remote control 106. For example, the remotecontrol 106 may identify that the batteries in the remote control 106have been replaced. A battery replacement message may be transmitted tothe entertainment device 102A.

Responsive to receiving the battery replacement message, theentertainment device 102A outputs a menu for presentation by thepresentation device 104. FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of ascreenshot 600 including a battery type selection menu. The presentationdevice 104 presents the screenshot 600 to the user 108. The user 108then utilizes the remote control 106 to make a battery type selectionfrom the menu in the screenshot 600. In at least one embodiment, theentertainment device 102A transmits a message to the remote control 106indicating that the menu is presently being displayed by thepresentation device 104. In other embodiments, the remote control 106enters a user input solicitation state responsive to transmitting thebattery replacement message to the entertainment device 102A to receiveuser input indicating the type of replacement battery in the remotecontrol 106. The remote control 106 receives the user input from theuser 108, and utilizes the user input to determine the type of batterypowering the remote control 106. The remote control may then select anappropriate low battery threshold value based upon the type of batterypowering the remote control 106.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a process for indicating a lowbattery condition in a remote control for an entertainment device. Theprocess of FIG. 7 will be discussed in reference to a televisionreceiver. However, it is to be appreciated that the process may beapplied to indicate low battery conditions in remote controls for othertypes of entertainment devices. The process of FIG. 7 is not allinclusive, and may include other operations not illustrated for the sakeof brevity.

The process includes determining a type of battery powering a remotecontrol for an entertainment device (operation 702). In at least oneembodiment, the type of battery may be determined through detectioncircuitry of the remote control that detects the type of the battery bymeasuring an initial voltage of the battery. In other embodiments, userinput may be utilized to determine the type of the battery. For example,the remote control may include a switch with selectable positions, eachposition corresponding with a particular type of battery powering theremote control. The remote control and the entertainment device may alsosolicit user input through one or more interfaces presented to the userby the entertainment devise and/or other associated presentationdevices.

The process further includes selecting a low battery threshold for thebattery based on the type of the battery (operation 704). The lowbattery threshold indicates a low battery condition of the remotecontrol. In at least one embodiment, the remote control determines thelow battery threshold by selecting a value from a stored table thatcorresponds with the battery type. In other embodiments, the remotecontrol may query the entertainment device for the low battery thresholdresponsive to determining the type of the battery powering the remotecontrol.

The process further includes measuring a voltage of the battery(operation 706). The voltage measurement may be performed by circuitryof the remote control, such as a processor and/or an analog-to-digitalconverter. In at least one embodiment, the remote control measures thevoltage of the battery during processing of user input received via akeypad or other input device or during transmission/reception of data tothe entertainment device.

The process further includes determining whether the voltage of thebattery is below the low battery threshold (operation 708). If thevoltage is below the low battery threshold, then processing continues atstep 710. Otherwise, processing returns to 706 to complete anothermeasurement operation during processing of subsequent user input ortransmission of data. The determination operation may be performed byany type of processor and/or comparison circuitry of the remote control.

In operation 710, the remote control transmits a low battery message tothe entertainment device responsive to determining that the voltage ofthe battery is below the low battery threshold. The entertainment deviceutilizes the low battery message to present an indicator to a userregarding the low battery condition of the remote control. For example,a television receiver may output a warning message prompting the user toreplace the batteries in the remote control. In at least one embodiment,the remote control presents an indicator to a user on a display screenor other presentation device integrated with the remote control ratherthan transmitting a low battery message to the television receiver.Through the operation of the process of FIG. 7, a user is alerted to theexistence of a low battery condition and is prompted to replace thebatteries of the remote control.

The adjustment of the low battery threshold based on a type of batteryutilized in a remote control may also be utilized to restrict the remotecontrol from performing certain functions if the terminal voltage of thebattery drops too low for safe operation. FIG. 8 illustrates anembodiment of a process for adjusting a voltage threshold indicating anunsafe operating condition of a remote control based on a battery type.The process of FIG. 8 will be discussed in regard to writing to anon-volatile memory of the remote control. However, it is to beappreciated that the process may be applied to restrict any operationperformed by a remote control that may be unsafe if the voltage of thebatteries is too low. The process of FIG. 8 is not all inclusive, andmay include other operations not illustrated for the sake of brevity.

The process includes determining a type of battery powering a remotecontrol (operation 802). Operation 802 may be performed similarly tooperation 702 of FIG. 7. The process further includes determining a lowbattery threshold indicating when the remote control is to refrain fromperforming a specified function (e.g., writing to non-volatile memory)(operation 804). Operation 804 may be performed similarly to operation704 of FIG. 7. In at least one embodiment, the threshold valueindicating when the remote control is to refrain from writing to memorymay be lower than the threshold value used to alert a user regarding alow battery condition of the remote control.

The process further includes receiving user input (operation 806). Theuser input may be received from a user via a keypad, touch screen orother similar input device of the remote control. In at least oneembodiment, processing of the user input involves the remote controlwriting data to non-volatile memory. However, it may be unsafe for theremote control to write to non-volatile memory if the voltage of thebattery is below the low battery threshold.

The process further includes measuring a voltage of the battery duringprocessing of the user input (operation 808). Operation 808 may beperformed similarly to operation 706 of FIG. 7. The voltage of thebattery may also be measured during the performance of other actions ofthe remote control, such as receiving data from an entertainment device.For example, the remote control may receive data from the entertainmentdevice that is transmitted without user action or knowledge. The processfurther includes determining whether the voltage of the battery is belowthe low battery threshold (operation 810). Operation 810 may beperformed similarly to operation 708 of FIG. 7.

If the voltage of the battery is below the low battery threshold, thenprocessing continues in step 812, and the remote control processes theuser input without writing to the non-volatile memory. In at least oneembodiment, the remote control sends a “critically low battery” messageto the entertainment device for presentation to a user. If the voltageof the battery is not below the low battery threshold, then the remotecontrol processes the user input and writes data to memory (operation814), and loops back to operation 806. Thus, another measurement may beperformed responsive to the next user input processed by the remotecontrol. Through the operation of the process of FIG. 8, the remotecontrol minimizes the possibility of data corruption caused by writingto memory when the terminal voltage of the batteries an insufficient tosupport the write function.

Although specific embodiments were described herein, the scope of theinvention is not limited to those specific embodiments. The scope of theinvention is defined by the following claims and any equivalentstherein.

1. A remote control comprising: a battery connector that connects to abattery powering the remote control; and a low battery detection module,coupled to the battery connector, operable to: measure an initialvoltage of the battery when the battery is connected to the batteryconnector; determine a type of the battery connected to the batteryconnector from a plurality of possible battery types based upon acomparison of the initial voltage of the battery to initial voltagesassociated with each of the possible battery types: determine a lowbattery threshold voltage associated with the determined type of thebattery; measure a measurement voltage of the battery; and determinewhether a low battery condition exists in the remote control if themeasurement voltage of the battery is less than the low batterythreshold voltage associated with the determined type of the battery. 2.The remote control of claim 1, further comprising: a transmitter coupledto the low battery detection module that transmits a low battery messageto a controlled device responsive to the low battery detection moduledetermining whether the low battery condition exists, wherein thecontrolled device utilizes the low battery message to present anindicator to a user regarding the low battery condition.
 3. The remotecontrol of claim 2, wherein the transmitter transmits the low batterymessage with a control command.
 4. The remote control of claim 1,further comprising: a presentation device operable to output at leastone indicator responsive to the low battery detection module determiningthat the low battery condition exists.
 5. The remote control of claim 4,wherein the presentation device is operable to output an audibleindicator regarding the low battery condition.
 6. The remote control ofclaim 4, wherein the presentation device is operable to output a visualindicator regarding the low battery condition.
 7. The remote control ofclaim 1, wherein the low battery detection module measures themeasurement voltage of the battery during processing of user inputreceived via an input device of the remote control.
 8. The remotecontrol of claim 1, wherein the low battery detection module measuresthe measurement voltage of the battery during exchange of informationwith a controlled device.
 9. The remote control of claim 1, wherein thelow battery detection module determines the low battery thresholdvoltage from a table that stores low battery threshold voltages for eachof the plurality of possible battery types.
 10. A system comprising: anentertainment device including:: an output interface that outputs apresentation stream for presentation on a presentation device; and awireless receiver; and a remote control including: a battery connectorthat connects to a battery powering the remote control; a low batterydetection module coupled to the battery connector, operable to: measurean initial voltage of the battery when the battery is connected to thebattery connector; determine a type of the battery connected to thebattery connector from a plurality of possible battery types based upona comparison of the initial voltage of the battery to initial voltagesassociated with each of the possible battery types; determine a lowbattery threshold voltage associated with the determined type of thebattery; measure a measurement voltage of the battery; and determinewhether a low battery condition exists in the remote control if themeasurement voltage of the battery is less than the low batterythreshold voltage associated with the determined type of the battery.11. The system of claim 10, further comprising: a transmitter coupled tothe low battery detection module that transmits a low battery message toa controlled device responsive to the low battery detection moduledetermining whether the low battery condition exists, wherein theentertainment device utilizes the low battery message to present anindicator to a user regarding the low battery condition.
 12. The systemof claim 10, wherein the low battery detection module determines the lowbattery threshold voltage from a table that stores low battery thresholdvoltages for each of the plurality of possible battery types.
 13. Amethod of indicating a low battery condition for a remote control, themethod comprising: measuring an initial voltage of a battery when thebattery is connected to a battery connector; determining a type of thebattery connected to the battery connector from a plurality of possiblebattery types based upon a comparison of the initial voltage of thebattery to initial voltages associated with each of the possible batterytypes; determining a low battery threshold voltage associated with thedetermined type of the battery; measuring a measurement voltage of thebattery; and determining whether a low battery condition exists in theremote control if the measurement voltage of the battery is less thanthe low battery threshold voltage associated with the determined type ofthe battery.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:transmitting a low battery message to a controlled device; and utilizingthe low battery message to present an indicator to a user regarding thelow battery condition.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the lowbattery message is transmitted with a control command.
 16. The method ofclaim 14, further comprising outputting a visual indicator regarding thelow battery condition on a presentation device.
 17. The method of claim13, wherein measuring a measurement voltage of the battery occurs duringprocessing of user input received via an input device of the remotecontrol.
 18. The method of claim 13, wherein measuring the measurementvoltage of the battery occurs during exchange of information with acontrolled device.
 19. The method of claim 13, wherein determining thelow battery threshold further comprises selecting a value from a storedtable that corresponds with the battery type.
 20. The method of claim13, wherein the determining of the low battery threshold voltagecomprises obtaining the low battery threshold voltage from a table thatstores low battery threshold voltages for each of the plurality ofpossible battery types.